Knockdown stepladder



my s. 1924. 1,500,937

G. F. HOTOPP KNOCKDOWN STEPLADDER Filed Dec. 13 1923 .July 8 1924.

G. F. HOTOPP KNOCKDOWN STEPLADDER 3 Shoots-Sheet 2 @LE Hoopg Patented July 8, 1924.

GEORGE FFI-IOTOPP, OFCINCINNATI, OHIO.

To all 'whom t may concer/a.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. H'o'rorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the coiuity of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Knockdown Step-- ladders; and I dol hereby deelare'the following to be a full, clear, and exact description Y of Ithe invention, such as will enable othersv skilled in the art to which it appertains to n y make and use the same.

The invention relates to ladders and more particularly to the kind which is selfsup porting and distinguished'as step ladders, and the principal object in view is the proand `quickly taken apart for storage or'transportation, and which when assembled is strong, braced, easily handled, neatfin' appearance' and relativelyV light in structure.

parent and suggest themselves as thenature of the invention is understood.

' i' VVhilethedrawingsdlustrate an'emb-odi- 'Y ment of the invention itistobe understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, Ikvarious changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spiritofthe'invention forming a part of theV application-'2 Figure 1 is a front view of a knock-down step ladder embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a side view thereof,

Figure 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional detail on the line 4 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of a step clip,

Figure 6 is a detail perspective View of a clip lock and step support, y

Figure is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 7-7 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a detail view showing a pivoted socket member for the arm of the pail rest,

Figure 9 is a detail section on the line 9-9 of Figure 2, and

Fi re 10 is an enlarged sectional detail onA the line 10e-10 of Figure 2.

Correspondingand like parts are referred to in the following description and desig- KNoCKDowN STEPLADDER.

Application med December 13, 1923,y serial No. 680,499.

Lie

nated in the several views of the drawings :by like reference characters.

The ladder comprises front legs or rises f1', bac-k legs 2. a top 3, crossed braces 4 for the back legs 2, folding braces 5 connecting the yfront and back legs, and steps or rungs 6 which are connected to the legs 1. Fastenings 7 are secured to the upper ends of the legsil and the legs 2v are pivoted to said faslte'nings and are reinforced at their upper ends by U-irons l8 which are secured thereto and which receive the pivot fastenings connecting the legs 2 to the fastenings 7. Hooks 9 at opposite ends of the'fastenings 7 engage about'thefront and rear edges of the top 3 vision of an *article of the nature statedf which may be readily assembled and easily andhold vit in place.

,ceive the outer ends of plates or clips 12 which are secured to't'heends of the steps 6. The plates or clips 12 are reduced adjacent Other objects and advantages will be ap-f their outer ends to pro-vide a neck'lS and a 'crosshead 14, the neck 13 corresponding to the width of the slots 11 and the crosshead 14 extending crosswise'of said slot whereby to confine the legs 'between the shoulders or projecting parts at opposite ends of theneck 13. When assemblingthe steps, the clips-or plates 12 assumea position to register with `the`sl0ts'11-,' thereby admitting ofthe cross'- head 14 passing through the slot 11"after which QtheV plate is turnedfto cause the cross- `head to extend crosswise of the-slot 11, therepla-te is moved downwardly to engage the lower end of the slot. Vertical movement ofthe plate or clip 12 and the steps 6 attached thereto is prevented by means of a lock having a head 15 which also serves to close theouter side of the slot 11, and has a stud or tongue 15a to enter the upper portion ofpsaid slot, said stud or tongue 15a engaging neck 13, while the head of the lock 15 engages the crosshead 14. A pair of pins 16 project inwardly from the head 15 and enter registering openings formed in the leg 1 and step 6, said pins being disposed upon opposite sides of the stud or tongue 15a and slot 11 and operating to hold theV plate 15 in place and to provide an additional support for the steps.

The numeral 17 designates a pail rest members 19 pivoted to the legs 2, they Yturn` freely kwith the pail rest and admit Aof the latter folding. Thevarms 18 are of a length to engage under a step and support the pail rest in horizontal position. a

The folding braces 5 are detachably con- Y i nected to the front legs 1 by means of thumb Y sembled or taken apart as required. The` screws 21 and the crossed braces 4 are similarlyV connected to the legs 2 by likefastening means 21. The latter isso constructed as to admit of the parts being readily astop 3 is detachablyheld in place by means of the hooks 9 ofthe side castings 7 and ythe pail rest 17 may be readily disengaged l f the slots 11, thereby admitting from the socket members 19, and the steps 6 easily and quickly disconnected from` the legs 1 by withdrawing the'lock `15 and liftingandturning the steps 6 to causethe cross heads 14 of the clip 12 to register; with of the legs 1 Abeing readily removed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ladder of the character described,

a Vuprghts .provided With slots in ythe length thereof, clips` secured to the lrungs andl each provided atits outer end 'with a crosshead which is adapted to passthrough a slot of the upright and to be turned to assume a,

position crosswise thereof` and on the opposite side of the upright from lthe end of the rung to secure the rung' to the upright, and Y av lock secured tothe upright and engaging the crosshead of the clip to prevent movement thereof.

v2. In a ladder of the character described,

uprights provided with slots yin the length thereof, clips secured to the rungs and each provided 'at its outer yend with a crosshead 45 whichis adapted to-pass through va slot of t ment thereof, said lock being provided with pins to enter registering openings of the upright and rung and disposed upon opposite sides of the slot. y

3. In a ladder of the character described, uprights provided with vertically disposed slots, steps, plates secured to end portions of the steps and each plate having its outer end reduced to provide a neck and a crosshead, the latter adapted to -pass through a slot of the upright and to be turned to as'- sume a position crosswise of the slot, and a lock plate provided with a pair of pins to enter registering openings formed in the upright and a step upon opposite sides of the slot, said plate closing the outer side of the slot and engaging the crosshead of the clip to hold the step in place.

4. Means to secure the rungs of a ladder vto rits upright comprising slots arranged longitudinally of the upright's, each, slot having a yplate secured to eachend thereof and having an integral crosshead inserted through a slot and al neck to `seat therein, and a locking member having a head to engage the head on the clip and the upright, a

tongue to engage the slot in the-upright,

and pins to seat 'in openings in the upright and rung.. Y 80 In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. i

GEORGE F. HOTOPP. Witnesses: Y

JOSEPH A. N ARDINI, GEO. A. Ho'rorr. 

